Salish Ponds Elementary
February, 2023
February Fun!
January flew past us all quickly! As we enter February, we are full of friendship conversations, student check ins with their growth on their STAR assessments and working hard to prepare for the middle of the school year! June will be here faster than we know it.
We are continuing to lower our rate of absences than the previous months! It's wonderful to see the growth and success everyone is making with their continued attendance at school. This lowers frustration levels, confusion, and understanding. We are better when we are together!
Thank you to all who came to our Family Potluck on the 26th! It was a hit with many families and the food was amazing! Families brought in homemade dishes they were happy to share with others! Please look below for our next family activity later this month.
Potluck Fun!
Enjoying a meal together!
Thank you for being part of our community!
PTO update
rjones@rsd7.net and vrose@rsd7.net
We look forward to supporting our scholars!
Immunization Exclusion
Exclusion day for the state of Oregon is Wednesday, February 15th. Letters will be mailed to parents whose children are not up to date or whose records are incomplete. If you receive a letter, please update your information as soon as possible to avoid your student being excluded from school. If you need help locating a health care provider or clinic, please contact our school Nurse Pham Tram.
Counselors Corner!
February - Friendship
A warm hello from your Salish Ponds counselors!
We hope you are staying safe and bundled up from all the wind and cold. Hard to believe it is February already! For this month, we are celebrating the theme of Kindness, with a side of Friendship. We will be visiting classrooms in the next couple of weeks to highlight what Kindness is and how we can show it in our school and community. We lean on each other to model kindness such as saying kind words, holding the door open for a person, and offering help you see someone needing support. These little acts of Kindness are important in everyday life.
Friendships are an ongoing process. They can be both easy and fragile. If your student seems down one day, you have the opportunity to model friendship skills by checking in with them, asking them what they need, and helping them navigate their situation.
A special drawing will be held this month for all students who practice acts of Kindness to fill their “Friendship Bucket” that they will get from their teachers. More details to come!
Check out the books about Kindness that follow that you can read with your scholar!
Here are some books for K-2nd:
· When We Are Kind / Nihá’ádaahwiinít’íigo (English and Navaho Edition) by Monique Gray Smith
· I Walk with Vanessa: A Picture Book Story About a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoët
· Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña
· Each Kindness by Jaqueline Woodson
The books for 3rd-5th that follow are all E-books:
· The Little Things: A Story about Acts of Kindness by Christian Trimmer & Kaylani Juanita
· Pete the Cat’s Groovy Guide to Kindness by Kimberly & James Dean
· The Notebook Keeper: A Story of Kindness from the Border by Stephen Briseno and Magdalena Mora
· The Power of One: Every Act of Kindness Counts by Trudy Ludwig & Mike Curato
· Henry is Kind by Linda Ryden & Shearry Malone
Thank you for being leaders of kindness for our Dragonfly community!
We are here to support your student and your family! Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. Puka Ahina, Social Worker, x 3008, Arianne Delos Reyes, K-2 School Counselor, x3016, Virginia Rose, 3-5 School Counselor, x3037.
Family Fun Night!
Grade level teams will be greeting your families in one of their grade level rooms (room # information to come) to play some math games and connects with art. Please come visit us from 5:30-7pm for some art and mathematics to take home!
State Testing Opt Out
State standardized testing will start at Salish Ponds soon. If you do not want your student to participate in the state testing this year, please contact the school so we can provide you with the appropriate form.
The ELPA (English Language Proficiency Assessment) will open on January 17th. Your child's attendance during our testing times will be imperative for the success of their completion and results.
If you have other questions, you can contact Mrs. Bentley.
Cultural Awareness: Black History Month!
In February scholars will be learning about Black History month. It began as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. It is celebrated in February in the United States.
Please look for activities coming home from your scholars learnings!
Honoring Black
History Month!
Friendships are important in life!
Report Cards
On Friday, Febrauary 3rd, your child’s first semester report card will be mailed home. They are also available on ParentVue.
Here are a few pieces of information about our report cards:
• Some areas of the report card may not be completed during the first semester, but each section will be graded at least one time within the school year.
• Report cards are done twice a year- in February and June.
• This report is based on knowledge and skills students should have at the end of the school year. Their current score is a reflection of where they are at this time on the continuum of learning toward the end of the year standard.
Valentines Day/Friendship Day
On February 14th, for the last 45 minutes of the day will be, "Friendship Celebrations," in all classrooms. Per district guidelines and communications, there will not be an allowance for sweets and treats. If you are looking for prizes remember items that can be helpful to our students at school are always welcome (pencils, erasers, pens, etc.).
Please note that all month-long students will be able to send Friendship grams throughout the building. This is for ALL students!
Meet some of our staff!
This month We want to introduce our Kindergarten teachers, a specialist, and support person.
Cat Monroy
Erin Wilhelms
Aimee Sword
Cat Monroy
Erin Wilhelms
Aimee Sword
Corraun Bourne
Mercedes Narvaez
Barb Clark
Corraun Bourne
Mercedes Narvaez
Barb Clark
Attendance Celebrations!
Did you know that last year only 32% of students at Salish attended school regularly compared to 64% of students in the state? At this point in January, 47% of Salish students are "regular attenders," coming to school at least 90% of the time! This is an average of missing no more than two days per month. Regular attenders are more likely to be strong readers, graduate high school on time, and attend college! It helps students feel connected to their classroom and reduces anxiety of having to catch up.
Our January attendance was the best yet with 57% of students attending regularly during the month. Thank you so much for sending students to school consistently and on time! Students who are "regularly attenders" for each month and students who are improving their attendance will be recognized at our monthly assembly on Thursday 2/2 and awards sent home that day.
We understand there are times when students must miss school for illness and important family events. Thank you for your continued communication! If your family needs support to help students' motivation to be at school, problem solve transportation issues, or anything else, please contact your scholar's teacher, our school counselors (Ms. Delos Reyes in K-2 and Ms. Rose in 3-5), or our school's social worker (Ms. Ahina).
Arrival and Dismissal/ Safety Concerns
Your patience at arrival and dismissal keeps our kids safe and the traffic moving! Thank you for driving with slow speeds, using our designated drop off areas, and for always checking with the adult on duty before leaving with your child.
Safety Concerns We need your help to ensure everyone's safety so we can avoid potentially dangerous situations for our students as they are getting dropped off to / picked up from school:
- Please do not drive around/over/through the orange cones - they are there to help traffic patterns and ensure your vehicle, your students and our staff remain safe!
- Park in the center parking lot only if you need to go into the building.
- Drive slowly and be considerate of drivers backing out of parking spots
- Allow students to get into/exit vehicles on curb side only
- Keep students buckled-up until vehicle is at a full stop
- Call the school if your student will be going home with a different person or in a different way
"Pro Tips" Here are some ideas for these times of the day that might benefit your family and help make our processes more efficient:
- We do not release students until 3:20pm and the pick-up line is complete in less than 15 minutes. Arriving early to line up in the car pick up lane doesn't always mean a faster pick up!
- If you consistently pick up your student in different cars or by different people, ask the teacher for another dashboard name sign so your pickup person will not need to be verified
- Park at the middle school north lot and walk to drop off/pick up your student! This could be a great time to talk and connect with your scholars without distractions (not to mention exercise a bit!).
This is a process we continually strive to make better and faster for you! Let us know if you have ideas!
Upcoming events in February!
- 2nd: 3rd- 5th Assembly at 11:10-11:40, and K-2nd Assembly at 12:30-1pm. Please let your scholar's teacher know if you are coming, so we can set up additional chairs.
- 3rd: Report cards sent home in the mail
- 3rd: Dash Cash Spirit Day!
- 6th- 10th: School Counseling Week
- 13th: ELPA Testing begins
- 14th: Friendship Day
- 15th: Exclusion Day (see above for details)
- 20th: Presidents Day
- 23rd: School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
- 23rd: Family Engagement Night:
We are the Salish Ponds Dragonflies!
Website: https://www.reynolds.k12.or.us/salish
Location: 1210 Northeast 201st Avenue, Fairview, OR, USA
Phone: (503) 492-7260